Anyone know the name of this game?

[DeLuSioNal29]

Hi everyone!

I have a buddy who sent me an e-mail, asking what the name of this game was.  Unfortunately, his description is vague but I'm sure this is the perfect place for asking, since you guys all know your stuff.

Here's what he wrote:

"Do you remember an arcade game that was out around 1986 (my best guess) that was a side scrolling shooter with a transforming robot?

It was like this walking transformer-like guy on the ground.... then you'd hit a button and transform into a jet to fight enemies in the sky.

I used to be the highscore holder of that game in my hometown..... but for the life of me I can't remember the name. Everybody I've asked can't remember such a game. Do you? "

Thanks in advance for your insight.

~ DeLuSioNaL

[Congui]

Hmm.  Sounds like Thexder.  Although I used to play the PC version, didn't know there was an arcade version.

Cheers, 
Congui

[DeLuSioNal29]

No, it was definitely an arcade coin op.

Other friends of mine suggested Spriggan, Thexder and Silpheed but those weren't them either.

~ DeLuSioNaL

[payment_due]

I think one of the Macross games did that. 

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?game_id=7335

[Benevolance]

I had an NES bootleg of a game called Transformer that was released in 1986. It featured a robot that walked or flew on a side-scrolling map. KLOV doesn't have any screen shots unfortunately, so I cannot tell if that is the correct game or not. And a Google search for 'Transformer' isn't exactly helpful. It did turn up that the game was apparently called Astro Flash in Japan.

Edit: Post too soon. Found a page with a few pics and a better description.

[TOK]

Aeroboto by Williams.

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?game_id=6820

[Ummon]

And it's in Mame. (Looks a little console-ish, though....) Make sure to get the Japanese set, formatz, as it needs this to load.

[NoOne=NBA=]

Was it MagMax?

[Bender]

 

just curious to see what it was

some of these look pretty cool

[Benevolance]

 

'kay, seriously. Which one was it? You can't just leave us hanging.

[Rusty Shackelford]

Gundam?

[rolins]

Formation Z   

[retrometro]

heh, I guess we've demonstrated that there's a gazillion versions of a transforming robot side scroller

[XeviouS]

Sounds like it could be Robo-Transforma-Scrollerama Jetman 4.